Magazine system for increasing the capacity of a firearm

ABSTRACT

A magazine system for increasing the cartridge storage capacity of a firearm is disclosed. The magazine system may be a magazine that includes a housing that has a capacity for ammunition and a spring mechanism housed within the housing. Additionally, the magazine system may include a connection mechanism that is connectable to the housing, and an extension portion that is insertable into the housing. The extension portion may increase the capacity for the ammunition by enabling the spring mechanism to expand beyond the length of the housing when the extension portion is extended from the housing, thereby making the magazine system easier to load. The magazine system may then be loaded, and the extension portion may then be retracted back into the housing. The connection mechanism may then be utilized to lock the extension portion into a retracted position once the extension portion is retracted back into the housing.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/888,178, filed Oct. 8, 2013, the entirety of which is incorporated herein.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present application relates to firearms and firearm magazines, and, more particularly, to a magazine system for increasing the capacity of a firearm.

BACKGROUND

In today's society, firearms are utilized by various people, industries, police forces, militaries, and government agencies for a variety of different purposes and uses. For example, firearms may be utilized for self-defense, military purposes, hunting, or for other designated purposes. Additionally, there are many types of firearms such as, but not limited to, handguns, long guns, rifles, shotguns, carbines, machine guns, and other types of guns. Several types of such firearms may be configured to be single shot, semi-automatic, or even fully automatic, and may also be configured to utilize different types of loading mechanisms. Such loading mechanisms may include revolvers, magazines, or other types of loading mechanisms that may be utilized to feed ammunition into the chambers of firearms so that the firearms may be effectively loaded and fired by the users that are using the firearms.

Typically, firearm magazines may be configured to be either detachable or directly fixed and integrated into a particular firearm. Additionally, firearm magazines typically include a magazine housing for storing the ammunition, a spring and follower combination that is utilized to feed the stored ammunition into the ammunition chamber of the firearm, feed lips that are used to partially hinder the vertical movement of the ammunition out of the magazine, and base portions that are located at the bottom of the magazines. While traditional firearm magazines come in a variety of different shapes and sizes, each firearm magazine typically has a fixed capacity of ammunition that it can store. Once a user utilizing a particular firearm has discharged all ammunition stored in a given firearm magazine, the user either has to insert a new magazine with additional ammunition into the receiver of the firearm or reload the empty magazine to continue firing the firearm. This may cause the user to have to carry more magazines and ammunition than the user needs to carry at any given moment in time.

SUMMARY

A magazine system and accompanying methods for increasing the capacity of a firearm are disclosed. In particular, the magazine system and methods provide improvements to firearm magazines. The magazine system may include an extension portion extending from a bottom portion of a magazine of a firearm. When the extension portion is extended from the magazine housing in an extended position, the extension portion may allow the inner loading spring mechanism in the magazine to have a greater amount of space in which to expand. Since the spring mechanism now has a greater amount of space in which to expand with the extension portion, the magazine may be loaded in a much easier fashion with an increased ammunition capacity. The user may then load the user's ammunition into the magazine and then retract or push the extension portion back into the magazine housing prior to firing the firearm. This causes the spring mechanism to retract or compress within the magazine. Additionally, when the extension portion is retracted back into the magazine housing in a retracted position, the overall length of the magazine may be substantially similar or equal to the length of the magazine when the magazine does not include the extension portion. In certain embodiments, the magazine system may also include a connection mechanism that may be utilized to fix the extension portion in a selected position with respect to the magazine housing. Once the firearm is effectively loaded and the extension portion is retracted into the magazine housing, the user may proceed to fire the firearm as needed.

In one embodiment, a magazine system for increasing the capacity of a firearm is disclosed. The magazine system may include a housing having a capacity for storing ammunition for the firearm. Additionally, the magazine system may include a spring mechanism that is housed within the housing. Also, the magazine system may include a latch mechanism that is connectable to the housing via a hinge. The hinge may enable the latch mechanism to move in a plurality of directions with respect to the hinge. The magazine system may also include an extension portion that is insertable into the housing of the magazine system. The extension portion may increase the capacity for the ammunition of the firearm by enabling the spring mechanism to expand beyond the length of the housing when the extension portion is extended from the housing, thereby making the magazine system easier to load. Once the extension portion is extended, the magazine system may be loaded with the ammunition. After the ammunition has been loaded into the magazine system, the extension portion may be retracted back into the housing, and the spring mechanism may also retract inside the magazine system as the extension portion is retracted. Once the extension portion is retracted, the latch mechanism may be locked into a bottom portion of the extension portion to lock the extension portion into place.

In another embodiment, a method for increasing the capacity of a firearm is disclosed. The method may include extending an extension portion from a housing of a magazine of the firearm. The extension portion may be utilized to increase the capacity of the firearm by enabling a spring mechanism housed within the housing to expand beyond a length of the housing when the extension portion is extended, thereby making the firearm easier to load with ammunition. Additionally, the method may include loading the ammunition into the housing of the magazine after the extension portion has been extended from the housing of the magazine of the firearm. Furthermore, the method may include retracting the extension portion into the housing of the magazine of the firearm after the ammunition is loaded into the housing of the magazine.

In yet another embodiment, another magazine system for increasing the capacity of a firearm is disclosed. The magazine system may include a housing having a capacity for storing ammunition for the firearm and a spring mechanism housing within the housing. Additionally, the magazine system may include a connection mechanism that is connectable to the housing. Furthermore, the magazine system may include an extension portion that is insertable into the housing. The extension portion may be utilized to increase the capacity for the ammunition by enabling the spring mechanism to expand beyond a length of the housing when the extension portion is extended from the housing. The magazine system may be loaded when the extension portion is extended from the housing, and the connection mechanism may lock the extension portion into a retracted position by connecting onto a bottom portion of the extension portion when the extension portion is retracted back into the housing.

These and other features of the magazine systems and methods for increasing the capacity of a firearm are described in the following detailed description, drawings, and appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side view of an example of a prior art firearm magazine.

FIG. 2 is a front view of the example prior art firearm magazine of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a back view of the example prior art firearm magazine of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a side view of a firearm grip including a firearm magazine in a retracted position according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 5 is a side view of the firearm magazine of FIG. 4 in an extended position.

FIG. 6 is a left side view of a firearm magazine in an extended position according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 7 is a right side view of the firearm magazine of FIG. 6 in an extended position.

FIG. 8 is a front view of the firearm magazine of FIG. 6 in an extended position.

FIG. 9 is a back view of the firearm magazine of FIG. 6 in an extended position.

FIG. 10 is a top view of the firearm magazine of FIG. 6 in an extended position.

FIG. 11 is a left side view of the firearm magazine of FIG. 6 in a retracted position.

FIG. 12 is a right side view of the firearm magazine of FIG. 6 in a retracted position.

FIG. 13 is a back view of the firearm magazine of FIG. 6 in a retracted position.

FIG. 14 is a schematic diagram of a firearm magazine featuring a security tab according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 15 is a flow diagram illustrating a sample method for increasing the capacity of a firearm according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Magazine systems and accompanying methods for increasing the capacity of a firearm are disclosed. In particular, the magazine systems and methods provide improvements to firearm magazines by incorporating an extension portion to a magazine of a selected firearm. When the extension portion is extended from the housing of the magazine, the extension portion may enable the inner loading spring mechanism that is utilized for feeding ammunition in the magazine to have a greater amount of space in which to expand. When the spring mechanism has a greater amount of space in which to expand using the extension portion, this may allow a user to load the magazine in a much easier fashion, while also simultaneously allowing the magazine to have increased ammunition capacity. The user may then load the user's ammunition into the magazine and then retract or push the extension portion back into the magazine housing, which will cause the spring mechanism to retract or compress within the magazine. Additionally, when the extension portion is retracted back into the magazine housing, the overall length of the magazine may be substantially similar or equal to the length of the magazine when the magazine does not include the extension portion. In certain embodiments, the magazine may also include a connection mechanism that may be utilized to lock the extension portion in a selected position with respect to the magazine housing. Once the firearm is effectively loaded and the extension portion is retracted, the user may proceed to fire the firearm as desired.

Referring to the drawings and in particular to FIGS. 1-3, a sample traditional magazine 100 that is utilized with a firearm is depicted. The traditional magazine 100 includes a magazine housing 105, a base 110, a spring-and-follower combination 115, and feed lips 120 and 125. The magazine housing 105 may be utilized to store the ammunition in the magazine 100 so that the ammunition may be loaded into a chamber of a firearm. In this example, the magazine 100 may be configured to store sixteen cartridges of ammunition. The base 110 of the magazine 100 may act as a support for the magazine 100. When a user utilizing the magazine 100 wants to load the magazine 100, the user may push cartridges down against the follower of the spring-and-follower combination 115, which then causes the spring to compress so as to allow the cartridges to be stored on top of each other within the magazine housing 105. In this traditional magazine 100, the spring will only expand within the length of the magazine housing 105. Once the magazine 100 is fully loaded, the feed lips 120 and 125 can prevent all of the stored cartridges from being ejected out of the magazine 100 by the force of the retracted spring after the user releases his hand or finger from the top of the spring-and-follower combination 115. However, once the magazine 100 is inserted into the magazine receptacle of the firearm, the feed lips 120 and 125 can allow one round at a time to be pushed forward out of the feed lips 120 and 125 and into the chamber of the firearm by utilizing the firearm's bolt (or other similar mechanism). After the round is loaded into the chamber of the firearm, a user using the firearm may fire the loaded round. Each remaining round stored in the magazine 100 will be moved into the chamber of the firearm based on the action of the firearm. Once the magazine 100 has been emptied, the user can reload the magazine 100 and repeat the process again.

Referring now to FIGS. 4-5, a magazine system 200 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is shown. The pistol grip 205 of a firearm includes a receptacle 210 that may be configured to receive the magazine system 200 after the magazine system 200 is loaded with cartridges 215 of ammunition. In one embodiment, the magazine system 200 may include a magazine housing 216, a follower 217, an extension portion 220, a hinge 225, a connection mechanism 230, and a spring 235. Although the magazine system 200 illustrates a specific example configuration of the various components of the magazine system 200, the magazine system 200 may include any configuration of the components, which may include using a greater or lesser number of the components or modified versions of the components.

The magazine housing 216 may be configured to have a given length and a volume inside the magazine housing 216. The volume can be utilized to store the cartridges 215 that are to be loaded into the magazine system 200. In one embodiment, the magazine housing 216 may have a size and shape to store sixteen cartridges of ammunition, however, in other embodiments, the magazine housing 216 may have other capacities for storing ammunition. In certain embodiments, the magazine housing 216 may be made of steel, plastic, other suitable materials, or any combination thereof.

The follower 217 may be utilized to guide the cartridges 215 into and out of the magazine system 200. In one embodiment, the follower 217 may be attached to the spring 235 to create a spring-and-follower combination. When a user of the firearm wants to load the magazine system 200, the user can push the cartridges 215 down against the follower 217 so that the spring 235 compresses down within the magazine housing 216 until the magazine system 200 is fully loaded with cartridges 215. After the magazine system 200 is inserted into the receptacle 210 of the firearm, the follower 217 may help to guide each round 215 upwards and out of the magazine system 200 so that the cartridges 215 can be fed in to the chamber of the firearm. For example, when the magazine system 200 is in the receptacle 210 of the firearm, the top round stored in the magazine system 200 may be pushed forward into the chamber of the firearm using a charging handle, bolt handle, or other similar mechanism. Once the top round is loaded into the chamber, the remaining cartridges 215 below the top round can be pushed up by the spring 235 and the follower 217 to a higher position within the magazine housing 216. The user can fire the top round out of the firearm, and the second round may be pushed forward into the chamber of the firearm using the charging handle or other similar mechanism, and the process can continue until the magazine system 200 is empty.

The extension portion 220 of the magazine system 200 may be utilized to increase the capacity of the magazine system 200, while simultaneously allowing for easier loading of the magazine system 200. In one embodiment, the extension portion 220 may be an attachment to the magazine housing 216 that contains a volume that is configured to enable the spring 235 to expand beyond the length of the magazine housing 216 when the extension portion 220 is being extended from the magazine housing 216. In one embodiment, one end of the spring 235 may be configured to rest against the base of the extension portion 220 and the other end of the spring 235 may be attached to the follower 217. In one embodiment, when the extension portion 220 is fully extended from the magazine housing 216, the distance that the spring 235 expands beyond the length of the magazine housing 216 may be approximately equal to the length of the extension portion 220. Also, when the extension portion 220 is extended, the user may load the cartridges 215 into the magazine system 200 in an easier fashion because the spring 235 has expanded beyond the length of the magazine housing 216 and because the spring 235 now has less tension than when the extension portion 220 is not extended. Now that the spring 235 has less tension and more room to expand, additional cartridges 215 beyond the traditional capacity of the magazine housing 216 may be loaded into the magazine. For example, if the magazine housing 216 has a traditional capacity of sixteen cartridges 215, then the extension portion 220 may allow a seventeenth round 215 or even more cartridges 215 to be stored in the magazine housing 216 even when the extension portion 220 is fully retracted.

In one embodiment, the extension portion 220 of the magazine system 200 may be configured to have a size and shape such that at least a majority of the extension portion 200 may be inserted into a base portion of the magazine housing 216 when the extension portion 220 is retracted into the magazine housing 216. When the extension portion 220 of the magazine system 200 is retracted back into the magazine housing 216, the spring 235 will compress within the magazine housing 216 until the extension portion 220 is fully retracted. In one embodiment, when the extension portion 220 of the magazine system 200 is retracted back into the magazine housing 216, the height of the magazine system 200 may be the same as when the extension portion 220 is not incorporated into the magazine system 200. As a result, when the extension portion 220 is attached to the magazine system 200 and retracted, the magazine system 200 may have similar dimensions as when the magazine system 200 does not have the extension portion 220 attached to the magazine system 200.

When the extension portion 220 is retracted into the base of the magazine housing 216, a connection mechanism 230 may be utilized to lock the extension portion 220 in the retracted position. In one embodiment, the connection mechanism 230 may be a latch, a locking tab, a clip, or any other type of connection mechanism. In FIGS. 5-6, the connection mechanism 230 is illustratively shown as a latch. The connection mechanism 230 may be attached to the magazine housing 216 via a hinge 225, which can allow the connection mechanism 230 to move in a variety of directions with respect to the hinge 225. The hinge 225 may also be utilized as a bullet/round stop to prevent overloading of the magazine system 200. When the extension portion 220 is retracted into the magazine housing 216, the user can move a portion of the connection mechanism 230 into a slot of the extension portion 220 to lock the extension portion in a retracted position. In one embodiment, instead of having the user physically moving the connection mechanism 230 into the slot, the magazine housing 216 can include a spring attached to the connection mechanism 230, which can automatically cause the connection mechanism 230 to move into the slot when the extension portion 220 is retracted back into the magazine housing 216.

Referring now to FIGS. 6-13, a magazine system 300 according to another embodiment of the present disclosure is shown. In one embodiment, the magazine system 300 may be a modified version of magazine 100 or magazine system 200, and may be inserted into a magazine receptacle of a firearm. The magazine system 300 may include a magazine housing 305, cut-out portions 308, an extension base portion 310, a magazine housing base portion 311, an extension base slot 312, a follower 315, an extension portion 320, a slot 322, a hinge 325, a connection mechanism 330, a spring 335, tabs or ledges 340, and feed lips 350 and 355. Although the magazine system 300 illustrates a specific example configuration of the various components of the magazine system 300, the magazine system 300 may include any configuration of the components, which may include using a greater or lesser number of the components or modified versions of the components.

The magazine housing 305 of the magazine system 300 may be configured to have a volume, which may be utilized to store one or more cartridges for the magazine system 300. In one embodiment, the magazine housing 305 may have a size and shape to store sixteen cartridges of ammunition without the extension portion 320 and greater than sixteen cartridges with the extension portion 320. However, in other embodiments, the magazine housing 305 may have other capacities for storing ammunition. The magazine housing 305 may also include a magazine housing base portion 311 that is at or near the bottom of the magazine housing 305. In one embodiment, the magazine housing 305 may also include cut-out portions 308 on either side of the magazine housing 305, which may be utilized to allow the tabs 340 of the extension portion 320 to catch onto the magazine housing base portion 311 when the extension portion 320 is extended from the magazine housing 305, such as shown in FIGS. 6-7. In certain embodiments, the magazine housing 305 may be made of steel, plastic, other suitable materials, or any combination thereof.

The follower 315 of the magazine system 300 may be utilized to guide ammunition into and out of the magazine system 300. In one embodiment, the follower 315 may be attached to one end of the spring 335. In certain embodiments, the follower 315 may be a modified version of follower 115 or may have the same structure as follower 115. When a user of the firearm wants to load the magazine system 300, the user can push the cartridges down against the follower 315 so that the spring 335 compresses down within the magazine housing 305 until the magazine system 300 is fully loaded with cartridges of ammunition. Once the cartridges are loaded into the magazine system 300, the feed lips 350 and 355 can prevent all of the loaded ammunition from ejecting out of the magazine system 300. Once the magazine system 300 is inserted into a corresponding receptacle of the firearm, the follower 315 and the feed lips 350 and 355 may help to guide each round upwards and out of the magazine system 300 so that the cartridges can be fed into the chamber of the firearm one at a time. For example, the top round stored in the magazine system 300 may be pushed forward into the chamber of the firearm using a charging handle, bolt handle, or other similar mechanism. Once the top round is loaded into the chamber, the remaining cartridges stored in the magazine system 300 can be pushed up to a higher position within the magazine housing 302 by the spring 335 and the follower 315.

The extension portion 320 of the magazine system 300 may be utilized to increase the capacity of the magazine system 300 and to allow for easier loading of the magazine system 300. The extension portion 320 may be attached to the magazine housing 305, and may contain a volume for the spring 335 to expand within beyond the length of the magazine housing 305. In one embodiment, the end of the spring 335 that is not attached to the follower 315 may be configured to rest inside the extension portion 320 and against the extension base portion 310. In one embodiment, when the extension portion 320 is fully extended from the magazine housing 305, the additional distance that the spring 335 can expand beyond the length of the magazine housing 305 may be approximately equal to the length of the extension portion 320. Additionally, when the extension portion 320 is extended, the user may load cartridges into the magazine system 300 in an easier fashion because when the spring 335 is able to expand beyond the length of the magazine housing 305, the spring 335 has less tension than if the spring 335 is only able to expand the length of the magazine housing 305. Furthermore, because the spring 335 has less tension and more room to expand, additional cartridges beyond the traditional capacity of the magazine housing 305 may be loaded into the magazine system 300. For example, if the magazine housing 305 has a traditional capacity of sixteen cartridges, then the extension portion 320 may allow additional cartridges to be stored in the magazine housing 305. The extension portion 320 may allow for additional cartridges even when the extension portion 320 is fully retracted.

Also, the extension portion 320 may be configured to have dimensions such that a substantial portion or all of the extension portion 200 may be inserted into the magazine housing 305 via the housing base portion 311. As the extension portion 320 of the magazine system 300 is being retracted back into the magazine housing 305, the spring 335 will compress within the magazine housing 305 until the extension portion 320 is fully retracted. When the extension portion 320 is fully retracted, the top of the extension portion may be configured to touch the last round stored in the magazine housing 305. In one embodiment, when the extension portion 320 of the magazine system 300 is retracted back into the magazine housing 305, the height of the magazine system 300 may be the same as when the extension portion 320 is not attached to the magazine system 300. As a result, when the extension portion 320 is attached to the magazine system 300 and retracted within the magazine housing 305, the magazine system 300 may have similar dimensions as when the magazine system 300 does not have the extension portion 320 attached to the magazine system 300.

Moreover, when the extension portion 320 is retracted into the magazine housing 305 via the base portion 311, a connection mechanism 330 may be utilized to lock the extension portion 320 in the retracted position. In one embodiment, the connection mechanism 330 may be latch, a locking tab, a clip, or any other type of connection mechanism. In FIGS. 6-13, the connection mechanism 330 is illustratively shown as a latch. In one embodiment, an end of the connection mechanism 330 may be attached to the magazine housing 305 via a hinge 325, which can allow the unattached portion of the connection mechanism 330 to move in a variety of directions with respect to the hinge 325. The hinge 325 may also serve as a bullet stop to prevent overloading of the magazine system 300. When the extension portion 320 is retracted into the magazine housing 305, the user can move the portion of the connection mechanism 230 that is not attached to the hinge 325 into the extension base slot 312 to lock the extension portion in a retracted position as shown in FIG. 13. In one embodiment, instead of having the user physically moving the connection mechanism 330 into the extension base slot 312, the magazine housing 305 may include a spring that is attached to the connection mechanism 330, which can automatically cause the connection mechanism 330 to move into the extension base slot 312 when the extension portion 320 is retracted back into the magazine housing 305.

When the extension portion 320 is locked in the retracted position, the user can unlock the extension portion 320 by pulling the connection mechanism 330 such that the end of the connection mechanism 330 that was in the extension base slot 312 is no longer in the extension base slot 312. Once the extension portion 320 is unlocked, the user can extend the extension portion 320 again to load ammunition into the magazine system 300. When the extension portion 320 is extended from the magazine housing 305, the tabs 340 of the extension portion 320 can catch onto the magazine housing base portion 311 to prevent the extension portion 320 from being completely removed from the magazine system 300. In one embodiment, when the extension portion 320 is extended, the connection mechanism 330 may be utilized to lock the extension portion 320 in the extended position. In order to lock the extension portion 320 in the extended position, the connection mechanism 330 may be inserted into the slot 322 of the extension portion 320 to lock the extension portion 320 into place. When the user wants to unlock the extension portion 320 from the extended position, the user can pull the connection mechanism 330 from the slot 322 and then retract the extension portion 320 back into the magazine housing 305.

Referring now also to FIG. 14, a magazine system 400 according to another embodiment of the present disclosure is shown. The magazine system 400 may include an extension portion 415, push clips 420, cut-out portions 425, a tab 430, an opening 435, and various desired components of magazines 200 and 300. The magazine system 400 may function similarly to magazines 200 and 300, however, magazine system 400 may include a different mechanism for locking the extension portion 415 into a selected position. In particular, instead of using the connection mechanisms 230 and 330, magazine system 400 may include push clips 420, which can be located on either side of the extension portion 415. When the extension portion 415 is retracted within the magazine system 400, a portion of the push clips 420 can stick out of the cut-out portions 425 so as to prevent the extension portion from falling out of the magazine system 400. In order to allow the extension portion 415 to extend out of the magazine system 400, the user can push against the push clips 420 to cause the tab 430 to retract from the opening 435 so as to release the extension portion 415. When the extension portion 415 is released, the user can extend the extension portion 415 and load the magazine system 400. Once the user is finished loading the magazine system 400 or at other times, the user can squeeze on the push clips 420 and retract the extension portion 415 back into the magazine system 400. When the extension portion 415 is fully retracted, the tab 430 can jut out of the opening 435 and the push clips 420 can jut out of the cut-out portions 425 to lock the extension portion 415 in the retracted position.

In yet another embodiment according to the present disclosure, a magazine system 500 according to another embodiment of the present disclosure is shown. The magazine system 500 may include an extension portion 515, push clips 520, cut-out portions 525, a security tab 530, and various components of magazines 200 and 300 as desired. The magazine system 500 may function similarly to magazines 200, 300, and 400, however, may include a different mechanism for locking the extension portion 515 into a desired position. In particular, the security tab 530 may be utilized to lock the extension portion 515 into place. If the security tab 530 is not pushed in, the extension portion 515 may be extended from the magazine system 500. However, when the user pushes the security tab 530 in, the security tab can hold in the extension portion 515 into place and prevent the extension portion 515 from sliding or falling out from the magazine system 500. Additionally, when the security tab 530 is pushed in, the security tab 530 may assist the extension portion 515 to withstand the pressure of the spring within the magazine system 500 when ammunition is being stored in the magazine system 500.

In certain embodiments, the extension portions 220, 320, 415, and 515 may be utilized solely for allowing easier loading of magazine systems 200, 300, 400, and 500 respectively. In such embodiments, the extension portions 220, 320, 415, and 515 do not have to increase the capacity of the magazine systems 200, 300, 400, and 500 respectively, but would simply make the magazine systems 200, 300, 400, and 500 easier to load by allowing each of the magazine systems' 200, 300, 400, and 500 corresponding springs to expand a greater distance than the springs would expand without the extension portions 220, 320, 415, and 515 being used. In other words, in such embodiments, the extension portions 220, 320, 415, and 515 may not change the original capacities that the magazine systems 200, 300, 400, and 500 had prior to attaching the extension portions 220, 320, 415, and 515 to the magazine systems 200, 300, 400, and 500 respectively.

As shown in FIG. 15, an exemplary method 1500 for increasing the capacity of a firearm is schematically illustrated. In certain embodiments, the method 1500 may utilize magazines 200, 300, 400, or 500. The method 1500 may include, at step 1502, extending an extension portion from a housing of a magazine of a firearm. When the extension portion is extended from the housing, the capacity of the magazine may be increased when compared to the magazine without the extension portion because the spring can now expand beyond the length of the housing and into the extension portion. In one embodiment, for example, the magazine may be magazine systems 200, 300, 400, or 500, and the extension portion may be extension portion 220, 320, 415, or 515. At step 1504, the method 1500 may include loading ammunition into the magazine after the extension portion has been extended from the housing of the magazine of the firearm. At step 1506, the method 1500 may include determining if the magazine is fully loaded with ammunition.

If the magazine is not fully loaded, the method 1500 may include continuing to load ammunition into the magazine at step 1508. If, however, the magazine is fully loaded, the method 1500 may include retracting the extension portion back into the housing of the magazine of the firearm at step 1510. At step 1512, the method 1500 may include locking a connection mechanism of the magazine onto a portion of the extension portion after the extension portion is retracted into the housing. The connection mechanism may be utilized to lock the extension portion into place. Once the extension portion is retracted, the method 1500 may include firing the firearm as desired at step 1514.

In one embodiment, the magazine systems and methods described herein may further include utilizing any of the various components and functionality described for magazines 100, 200, 300, 400, and 500 to perform the operative functions disclosed herein. It is important to note that the methods described above may incorporate any of the functionality, devices, and/or features of the apparatuses described above, or otherwise, and are not intended to be limited to the description or examples provided herein.

The illustrations of arrangements described herein are intended to provide a general understanding of the structure of various embodiments, and they are not intended to serve as a complete description of all the elements and features of apparatus and systems that might make use of the structures described herein. Many other arrangements will be apparent to those of skill in the art upon reviewing the above description. Other arrangements may be utilized and derived therefrom, such that structural and logical substitutions and changes may be made without departing from the scope of this disclosure. Figures are also merely representational and may not be drawn to scale. Certain proportions thereof may be exaggerated, while others may be minimized. Accordingly, the specification and drawings are to be regarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense.

Thus, although specific arrangements have been illustrated and described herein, it should be appreciated that any arrangement calculated to achieve the same purpose may be substituted for the specific arrangement shown. This disclosure is intended to cover any and all adaptations or variations of various embodiments and arrangements of the invention. Combinations of the above arrangements, and other arrangements not specifically described herein, will be apparent to those of skill in the art upon reviewing the above description. Therefore, it is intended that the disclosure not be limited to the particular arrangement(s) disclosed as the best mode contemplated for carrying out this invention, but that the invention will include all embodiments and arrangements falling within the scope of the appended claims.

The foregoing is provided for purposes of illustrating, explaining, and describing embodiments of this invention. Modifications and adaptations to these embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art and may be made without departing from the scope or spirit of this invention. Upon reviewing the aforementioned embodiments, it would be evident to an artisan with ordinary skill in the art that said embodiments can be modified, reduced, or enhanced without departing from the scope and spirit of the claims described below. 

I claim:
 1. A magazine system for increasing a cartridge storage capacity of a firearm comprising: a housing having a capacity for ammunition for the firearm; a spring mechanism housed within the housing; a latch mechanism that is connectable to the housing via a hinge, wherein the hinge enables the latch mechanism to move in a plurality of directions; and an extension portion insertable into the housing, wherein the extension portion increases the capacity for the ammunition by enabling the spring mechanism to expand beyond a length of the housing when the extension portion is extended from the housing in an extended position, wherein the magazine system is loaded when the extension portion is extended from the housing, wherein the spring mechanism retracts when the extension portion is retracted into the housing in a retracted position, and wherein the latch mechanism locks into a bottom portion of the extension portion when the extension portion is retracted into the housing in the retracted position.
 2. The magazine system of claim 1, wherein a length of the magazine system is substantially equal to the length of the housing when the extension portion is retracted into the housing.
 3. The magazine system of claim 1, wherein the extension portion includes a tab that catches onto a portion of the housing when the extension portion is extended from the housing, wherein the tab prevents the extension portion from being completely removed from the housing when the extension portion is extended from the housing.
 4. The magazine system of claim 1, wherein the magazine system is insertable into a receptacle of the firearm.
 5. The magazine system of claim 1, wherein the extension portion includes a slot, and wherein the latch mechanism locks into the slot of the extension portion when the extension portion is extended from the housing.
 6. The magazine system of claim 1, wherein the magazine system further comprises an additional spring mechanism which causes the latch mechanism to automatically lock into the bottom portion of the extension portion when the extension portion is retracted into the housing.
 7. The magazine system of claim 1, wherein the hinge is configured to act as an ammunition stop to prevent overloading of the magazine system.
 8. The magazine system of claim 1, wherein the magazine system further comprises a follower mounted to a top portion of the spring mechanism, wherein the ammunition is loaded into the magazine system by pushing the ammunition down against the follower and the spring mechanism.
 9. A method for increasing a cartridge storage capacity of a firearm, the method comprising: extending an extension portion from a housing of a magazine of the firearm, wherein the extension portion increases the capacity of the firearm by enabling a spring mechanism housed within the housing to expand beyond a length of the housing when the extension portion is extended, thereby making the firearm easier to load; loading ammunition into the housing of the magazine after the extension portion has been extended from the housing of the magazine of the firearm in an extended position; and retracting the extension portion into the housing of the magazine of the firearm in a retracted position after the ammunition is loaded into the housing of the magazine.
 10. The method of claim 9, wherein loading the ammunition into the housing further comprises pushing each cartridge of the ammunition down against a follower mounted onto a top portion of the spring mechanism until the magazine is filled with the ammunition.
 11. The method of claim 9, further comprising locking a latch mechanism of the magazine into a bottom portion of the extension portion when the extension portion is retracted into the housing.
 12. The method of claim 11, further comprising locking the latch mechanism into a slot of the extension portion when the extension portion is extended from the housing.
 13. The method of claim 9, further comprising inserting the magazine into a receptacle of the firearm.
 14. The method of claim 9, wherein a length of the magazine is substantially equal to the length of the housing when the extension portion is retracted into the housing.
 15. The method of claim 9, further comprising preventing, by utilizing a tab that catches onto a portion of the housing, the extension portion from being completely removed from the housing when the extension portion is extended from the housing.
 16. The method of claim 9, wherein the spring mechanism expands beyond the length of the housing for a distance substantially equal to the length of the extension portion when the extension portion is extended from the housing.
 17. A magazine system for increasing a cartridge storage capacity of a firearm comprising: a housing having a capacity for ammunition for the firearm and a spring mechanism housing within the housing; a connection mechanism that is connectable to the housing; and an extension portion insertable into the housing, wherein the extension portion increases the capacity for the ammunition by enabling the spring mechanism to expand beyond a length of the housing when the extension portion is extended from the housing in an extended position, wherein the magazine system is loaded when the extension portion is extended from the housing, wherein the connection mechanism locks the extension portion into a retracted position by connecting onto a bottom portion of the extension portion when the extension portion is retracted back into the housing.
 18. The magazine system of claim 17, wherein a length of the magazine system is substantially equal to the length of the housing when the extension portion is retracted into the housing.
 19. The magazine system of claim 17, wherein the extension portion includes a slot, and wherein the connection mechanism locks into the slot of the extension portion when the extension portion is extended from the housing.
 20. The magazine system of claim 17, the magazine system further comprises a follower mounted to a top portion of the spring mechanism, wherein the ammunition is loaded into the magazine system by pushing the ammunition down against the follower and the spring mechanism. 